The Denver Art Museum's remodeled Indigenous art galleries opened in 2011 with a new focus on artists, their creations and their inspirations. The museum's Indigenous Arts of North America collection includes more than 18,000 art objects representing the heritage of cultures and tribes across the United States and Canada. Recognized as one of the best of its kind in the United States, the collection spans more than 2,000 years of artistic creativity, from prehistoric times to the present. It includes diverse artistic traditions such as Pueblo ceramics, Navajo textiles, Northwest Coast sculpture, basketry, Plains beadwork and oil paintings, representing the full range of Indigenous art styles. Over the past 80 years, these artworks have been featured both nationally and internationally in scholarly publications, innovative exhibitions and educational programs. Keep an eye on the Museum's events calendar: The Native Arts Department sponsors an annual Friendship Powwow and periodically brings Native American artists to the museum to speak about their work.
History Colorado collaborates with museums and institutions across the state to preserve and share Colorado’s diverse heritage. Headquartered in Denver, History Colorado partners with the Ute Indian Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to highlight Indigenous history and cultural contributions. One of its most impactful exhibitions, The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal That Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever, was created in close consultation with tribal leaders and representatives from tribes in Oklahoma, Wyoming and Montana. This collaborative approach ensures that visitors learn about the history of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people through their own voices. The museum features striking visual elements, including life-sized Cheyenne and Arapaho tepees.
The award-winning exhibit presents a powerful account of a tragic and defining moment in Colorado history while honoring the resilience of Indigenous people. Through storytelling, artifacts and immersive displays, visitors learn about the injustices endured by Indigenous communities and are encouraged both to reflect on the past and consider the importance of truth, healing and hope for future generations.
Dairy Arts Center (Boulder)
Creative Nations Gallery supports Indigenous artists and provides exhibitions, education and opportunities for emerging artists and curators. Located in the heart of Boulder, the gallery is a setting for readings, workshops, and revolving exhibitions curated by Indigenous artists.
Old West icon Buffalo Bill Cody is buried 30 minutes west of Denver on Lookout Mountain in Golden. The Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave takes visitors through Bill's dynamic life — including his fascinating relationship with American Indians. Originally a scout during the Indian wars, he later became an advocate for American Indians and was well known for treating them with equality and respect during his years touring with Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
Travel back to a time before the arrival of Christopher Columbus to visit the fascinating culture that created the awesome and mysterious stone structures at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum, located at the foot of Pikes Peak (a 1.5-hour drive from Denver), is a rare treasure, allowing visitors to explore the remarkably preserved ruins of a long-gone civilization. "There are no ‘Do Not Touch' signs," the museum's website proudly proclaims. Visitors are free to touch and even go inside these architectural remnants of an American Indian culture that roamed the Four Corners area of the Southwest from 1200 B.C. to A.D. 1300.
